Isolated reductive dehalogenase genes

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to novel reductive dehalogenase genes encoding for reductive dehalogenases which are capable of dehalogenating halogenated organic compounds and may be useful in the bioremediation of pollutants. In particular, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide of a novel vinyl chloride dehalogenase gene (bvcA). The novel vinyl chloride dehalogenase gene encodes a reductive dehalogenase that is capable of the complete reduction of vinyl chloride to ethene.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to novel reductive dehalogenase genes encoding reductive dehalogenases that have been isolated from dechlorinating bacteria. The invention also relates to methods of detecting and characterizing reductively dechlorinating populations of bacteria possessing the novel dehalogenase genes of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a toxic and carcinogenic priority pollutant that threatens drinking water quality in most industrialized countries. Kielhorn J., et al. (2000) Environ. Health Perspect. 108:579-588. A major source of environmental VC is due to transformation reactions acting on chlorinated solvents such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE), which are abundant groundwater pollutants. Mohn W., et al. (1992) Microbiol. Rev. 56:482-507. Additional environmental VC pollution originates from landfills, PVC production facilities and abiotic formation in soils. Due to the extent of the problem, innovative and affordable technologies are needed to restore VC contaminated sites and guarantee drinking water safety.

Bioremediation approaches that rely on the activity of bacterial populations that use chlorinated compounds as growth-supporting electron acceptors (i.e., chlororespiration) have been used previously in the field (see, e.g., Ellis D., et al. (2000) Environ. Sci. Technol. 34:2254-2260; Major, D., et al. (2002) Environ. Sci. Technol. 36:5106-5116; Lendvay J., et al. (2003)Environ. Sci. Technol. 37:1422-1431). Bacterial populations useful in bioremediation include bacteria capable of reductive dechlorination and detoxification of VC to ethene. Such bacterial populations include members of the family Dehalococcoides, a deeply branching group on the bacterial tree most closely affiliated with the Chloroflexi. Cupples A., et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Micobiol. 69:953-959. To facilitate the identification of bacterial populations responsible for dechlorination and detoxification of VC, 16S rRNA gene-based PCR approaches have been designed to detect and quantify members of Dehalococcoides. Such approaches have been helpful for assessing VC-contaminated sites, monitoring bioremediation efforts, and establishing cause-effect relationships between the presence of chlorinated compounds and the growth of specific strains of dechlorinating bacteria. Lendvay J., et al. (2003) Environ. Sci. Technol. 37:1422-1431.

Although 16S rRNA gene-based PCR approaches have been developed to detect and quantify members of Dehalococcoides, such approaches are limited in their applicability as Dehalococcoides strains with different dechlorination activities share similar or identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. He, J. et al. (2003) Nature 424:62-65. Examples of Dehalococcoides strains which demonstrate substantial similarities among 16S rRNA gene sequences, but distinct dechlorination activities include Dehalococcoides sp. strain CBDB1, which dechlorinates trichlorobenzenes, pentachlorobenzene and some polychlorinated dibenzodioxin congeners but failed to dechlorinate PCE and TCE (Adrian, et al. (2000) Nature 408:580-583), Dehalococcoides ethenogenes 195 and Dehalococcoides sp. and Dehalococcoides sp. strain FL2, which grow with polychlorinated ethenes as electron acceptors but cannot grow with VC, and Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1 which respires all DCE isomers and VC (He, J. et al. (2003) Nature 424:62-65). Despite their metabolic differences, these strains share 16S rRNA gene sequences with more than 99.9% similarity (based on the analysis of 1,296 aligned positions). He, J. et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:485-495.

As a result of the high degree of identity among the 16S rRNA gene sequences of various Dehalococcoides populations, the identification of bacteria having different dechlorinating activities is difficult. There is, therefore, a need in the art for an improved means of identifying and characterizing reductively dechlorinating populations of bacteria. One such approach is to identify genes associated with the dechlorination of particular halogenated compounds, particularly genes encoding for reductive dehalogenases (RDases) capable of reductive dehalogenation of VC.

Gene sequences encoding for reductive dehalogenases involved in the partial reductive dechlorination of PCE and chlorinated aromatic compounds have been identified (see e.g., Magnuson, J., et al. (2000) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:51441-5147). Functional genes involved in complete reduction of VC, however, have not been found. Alignment of known reductive dehalogenase amino acid sequences revealed low sequence identity (27 to 32%); although conserved stretches have been identified, e.g., a twin diarginine (RR) motif near the amino-terminus and two iron-sulfur cluster binding motifs near the C-terminus. Additionally, each of the identified RDase genes is associated with a B gene that encodes a hydrophobic protein with transmembrane helices believed to anchor the RDase to the membrane. Magnuson, J., et al. (2000) Appl. Environ Microbiol. 66:51441-5147. In Dehalococcoides, Sulfurospirillum (formerly Dehalospirillum), Dehalobacter and Desulfitobacterium, the B gene is located downstream of the PCE/TCE RDase genes. See e.g., Magnuson, J., et al. (2000) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:51441-5147; Maillard, J., et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:4628-4638; Suyama, A., et al. (2002) J. Bateriaol. 184:3419-3425. In cprA operons (ortho chlorophenol RDases) of Desulfitobacterium species an opposite arrangement was observed. Van de Pas, B., et al. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 52:299-312.

Although gene sequences encoding reductive dehalogenases involved in the partial reductive dechlorination of PCE and chlorinated aromatic compounds have been identified, genes encoding enzymes capable of reductive dechlorination of vinyl chloride to ethene, have not been identified. Hence, there is a need in the art to identify functional genes associated with VC reductive dechlorination and in particular to identify and isolate reductive dehalogenase genes from dechlorinating bacteria and in particular those of the family Dehalococcoides. Additionally, there is a need in the art for a method of that identifies reductively dechlorinating populations of bacteria which overcomes the limitations of the identification methods of the prior art, and facilitate the monitoring of bioremediation by dechlorinating bacteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel reductive dehalogenase genes isolated from dechlorinating bacteria and encoding for reductive dehalogenase enzymes. The deduced amino acid sequences of the presently identified dehalogenase enzymes indicates that they are capable of the reductive dehalogenation of halogenated substrates and in particular the reduction of vinyl chloride to ethene.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides for methods of identifying and isolating bacterial target DNA from dechlorinating bacteria of interest, such as Dehalococcoides populations.

In additional embodiments, the invention provides gene primer pairs and probes useful for quantification of dechlorinating bacteria using analytical techniques such as, for example and without limitation, hybridization, PCR and Real-Time PCR technology. The components provided and the methods in which they are employed are useful in bioremediation processes mediated by dechlorinating bacteria.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides for an isolated polynucleotide encoding a reductive dehalogenase comprising a polynucleotide sequence having at least 85% and preferably at least 90% and more preferably at least 95% and still more preferably 99% sequence identity over the length of the entire reference sequence to a polynucleotide consisting of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1-8.

In other embodiments, the invention provides a recombinant expression vector comprising any one of the aforementioned isolated polynucleotides operably linked to a regulatory sequence, and a cell, or organism comprising the recombinant gene sequence.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a vector comprising any one of the aforementioned isolated polynucleotides.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding an enzyme that reductively dechlorinates vinyl chloride. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding a reductive dehalogenase.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding an enzyme that reductively dechlorinates vinyl chloride wherein the polynucleotide is isolated from dechlorinating bacteria, such as for example, Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of identifying a polynucleotide encoding a reductive dehalogenase in a sample, comprising: contacting the sample with (i) a first oligonucleotide primer comprising a portion of the polynucleotide of claim 1; and (ii) a second oligonucleotide primer comprising a portion of the polynucleotide of claim 1; and performing PCR on the sample, wherein the presence of an amplification product indicates the presence of a polynucleotide encoding a reductive dehalogenase in the sample.

In another embodiment the invention provides a method of quantifying the amount of dechlorinating bacteria present in a sample comprising, (a) contacting the sample with (i) a probe comprising a portion of any one of the sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1-8; (ii) a first primer comprising a portion of any one of the sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 9-15; and (iii) a second primer comprising a portion of any one of the sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 16-22; and (b) performing Real-Time PCR on the sample to quantify the amount of dechlorinating bacteria present in the sample.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of detecting the presence of a dechlorinating bacteria in a sample comprising, (a) contacting the sample with (i) a first primer comprising a portion of any one of the sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 9-15; and (ii) a second primer comprising a portion of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 16-22; and (b) performing PCR on the sample, wherein the presence of amplification products confirms the presence of the dechlorinating bacteria.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for identifying a dechlorinating bacterial organism comprising the steps of (a) contacting a probe with a bacterial cell extract, the contact effecting the hybridization with a nucleic acid derived from the bacterial cell extract, wherein the probe comprises the polynucleotide claim 1, or a fragment thereof, and, (b) determining that the probe has hybridized to the nucleic acid derived from the bacterial cell extract.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the bvcA gene and its corresponding B gene showing conserved features shared with other known reductive dehalogenase genes and their associated B genes. Conserved dehalogenase features are labeled with an asterisk.

FIG. 2 shows the results of PCR amplification of the bvcA gene with specific primers bvcAF and bvcAR and templates generated from VC-grown BAV1 cultures and cis-DCE grown cultures of Dehalococcoides sp. strain FL2.

FIG. 3. shows the results of an experiment demonstrating the specificity of primers targeting the VC RDase gene, bvcA.

FIG. 4 shows the detection of bvcA in VC-dechlorinating mixed cultures.

FIGS. 5A-5D are an alignment matrix corresponding to the alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences from Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1 reductive dehalogenase genes, including bvcA, of the present invention and other known reductive dehalogenases isolated from Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195, Dehalospirllum multivorans (PceA), Desulfitobacterium sp. Y51 (PceAb), Dehalobacter restrictus (PceAc), Desulfitobacterium frappieri (PceAd), Desulfitobacterium dehalogenans (CprAd, CprAc), Desulfitobacterium hafniense (CprAh) and Desulfitobacterium sp. Viet-1 (CprAV).

FIGS. 6A-6D show the alignment of the amino acid sequences deduced from the BvcA gene of the present invention and other known reductive dehalogenases isolated from D. ethenogenes strain 195 and Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1. RDA (1-17) correspond to the deduced amino acid sequences of D. ethenogenes strain 195 reductive dehalogenases (Villemur et. al. (2002) J. Can. Microbiol. 48:697-706), TceA corresponds to D. ethenogenes strain 195 trichlorethene dehalogenase (AF0228507-2), PceA corresponds to tetrachloroethene dehalogenase of Dehalospirllum multivorans (AF22812.1), PceAb corresponds to tetrachloroethene dehalogenase of Desulfitobacterium sp. Y51. (21623559), PceAc corresponds to tetrachloroethene dehalogenase of Dehalobacter restrictus (AJ439607.1), PceAd corresponds to tetrachloroethene dehalogenase of Desulfitobacterium frappieri (AJ439608.1), CprAd corresponds to o-chlorophenol dehalogenase precursor of Desulfitobacterium dehalogenans (AF115542-3), CprAc corresponds to o-chlorophenol dehalogenase of Desulfitobacterium chlororespirans (AF204275.2), CprAh corresponds to o-chlorophenol dehalogenase of Desulfitobacterium hafniense (AF4031828), CprAV corresponds to o-chlorophenol reductive dehalogenase of Desulfitobacterium sp. Viet-1 (AF259791.1). The amino acid sequences of the reductive dehalogenases in FIGS. 6A-6D are included in the sequence listing as follows: RDA13 is SEQ ID NO: 38; RDA is SEQ ID NO: 39; RDA11 is SEQ ID NO: 40; RDAl2 is SEQ ID NO: 41; RDA10 is SEQ ID NO: 42; RDA2 is SEQ ID NO: 43; RDA1 is SEQ ID NO: 44; TCEA is SEQ ID NO: 45; RDA6 is SEQ ID NO: 46; RDA3 is SEQ ID NO: 47; RDA4 is SEQ ID NO: 48; RDAS is SEQ ID NO: 49; RDA8 is SEQ ID NO: 50; RDA9 is SEQ ID NO: 51; RDA7 is SEQ ID NO: 52; RDA15 is SEQ ID NO: 53; PCEA is SEQ ID NO: 54; PCEAc is SEQ ID NO: 55; PCEAd is SEQ ID NO: 56; PCEAb is SEQ ID NO: 57; CPRAd is SEQ ID NO: 58; CprAV is SEQ ID NO: 59; CprAh is SEQ ID NO: 60; CPRAc is SEQ ID NO: 61; RDA16 is SEQ ID NO: 62; RDA17 is SEQ ID NO: 63.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to novel reductive dehalogenase genes encoding for reductive dehalogenases which are capable of dehalogenating organic compounds. The genes and proteins they encode may be useful in the bioremediation of pollutants. In particular embodiments, the invention provides the complete sequence of a novel vinyl chloride dehalogenase gene (bvcA) having the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. The novel vinyl chloride dehalogenase gene encodes a reductive dehalogenase that is capable of the complete reduction of vinyl chloride to ethene.

The present invention further provides for a method of identifying dechlorinating bacterial populations capable of facilitating the reductive dechlorination of organic compounds and in particular the identification of vinyl chloride respiring dechlorinating bacterial populations. Such methods include, but are not limited to, the identification of dechlorinating bacterial populations via the identification of reductive dehalogenase genes, using such methods as hybridization, PCR and Real-Time PCR. Moreover, such methods may be used to assess and monitor dechlorinating bacterial populations at sites contaminated with halogenated compounds and which are amenable to bioremediation using dechlorinating bacteria.

DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

The term reductive dehalogenase is abbreviated “RDase.”

The term Real-Time PCR is abbreviated as “RTm PCR” and as used herein means a method for simultaneous amplification, detection, and quantification of a target polynucleotide using double dye-labeled fluorogenic oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes during PCR.

As used herein, the tenns “PCE,” “perchloroethylene,” “tetrachloroethylene,” and “tetrachloroethene” are synonymous and refer to Cl₂C═C Cl₂

As used herein, “TCE,” “trichloroethylene,” and “trichloroethene” are synonymous and refer to Cl₂C═CH—Cl.

As used herein, “DCE,” “dichloroethylene,” and “dichloroethene” are synonymous and refer to Cl—HC═CH—Cl.

As used herein, “VC, “vinyl chloride,” and “chloroethene” are synonymous and refer to H₂C═CH—Cl.

As used herein, “ethylene” and “ethene” are synonymous and refer to H₂C═CH₂.

As used herein, the term “chloroethenes” refers to PCE, TCE, DCE, VC, and mixtures thereof.

“Reductive dehalogenase enzyme” refers to an enzyme system that is capable of dehalogenating a halogenated straight chain or ring containing organic compound, that contains at least one halogen atom. Examples of halogenated organic compounds that may de-halogenated by a reductive dehalogenase include, but not limited to, PCE, TCE, DCEs (cis-DCE, trans-DCE, 1,1-DCE)_and VC.

“Dechlorinating bacteria” refers to a bacterial species or organism population that has the ability to remove at least one chlorine atom from a chlorinated organic compound. Examples of dechlorinating bacteria include, but are not limited to Dehalococcoides spp, Dehalobacter restrictus, Sulfurospirillum multivorans, Desulfitobacterium dehalogenans, Desulfuromonas chloroethenica, and Desulfuromonas michiganensis.

As referred to herein, “sequence similarity” means the extent to which nucleotide or protein sequences are related. The extent of similarity between two sequences can be based on percent sequence identity and/or conservation. With regard to proteins, sequence identity is a comparison of exact amino acid matches, whereas sequence similarity refers to amino acids at a position that have the same physical-chemical properties (i.e. charge, hydrophobicity). Amino acids other than those indicated as conserved may differ in a protein or enzyme so that the percent protein or amino acid sequence similarity between any two proteins of similar function may vary. Preferably, the sequence identity is at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably 80%, and most preferably at least 90%, as determined according to an alignment scheme.

“Sequence alignment” means the process of lining up two or more sequences to achieve maximal levels of sequence identity (and, in the case of amino acid sequences, conservation), e.g., for the purpose of assessing the degree of sequence similarity. Methods for aligning sequences and assessing similarity and/or identity are well known in the art. Such methods include for example, the MEGALIGN software Clustal Method, wherein similarity is based on the MEGALIGN Clustal algorithm, ClustalW and ClustalX (Thompson, J., et al. (1997) Nucleic Acid Res. 25:4876-4882) as well as BLASTN, BLASTP, and FASTA (Pearson et al. (1988) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 85:2444-2448). When using these programs, the preferred settings are those that result in the highest sequence similarity.

Molecular Biology

In accordance with the present invention there may be employed conventional molecular biology, microbiology, and recombinant DNA techniques within the skill of the art. The general genetic engineering tools and techniques discussed herein, including transformation and expression, the use of host cells, vectors, expression systems, etc., are well known in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook, Fritsch & Maniatis, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition (2001) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (herein “Sambrook et al. 2001”); DNA Cloning: A Practical Approach, Volumes I and II, Second Edition (D. N. Glover ed. 1995); B. Perbal, A Practical Guide To Molecular Cloning (1984); F. M. Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1994).

The term “host cell” means any cell of any organism that is selected, modified, transformed, grown, used, or manipulated in any way, for the production of a substance by the cell, for example the expression by the cell of a gene in this cell, a DNA or RNA sequence, a protein or an enzyme.

A “polynucleotide” or “nucleotide sequence” is a series of nucleotide bases (also called “nucleotides”) in DNA and RNA, and means any chain of two or more nucleotides. A nucleotide sequence typically carries genetic information, including the information used by cellular machinery to make proteins and enzymes. These terms include double or single stranded genomic and cDNA, RNA, any synthetic and genetically manipulated polynucleotides, and both sense and anti-sense polynucleotides (although only sense stands are being represented herein). This includes single- and double-stranded molecules, i.e., DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA and RNA-RNA hybrids, as well as “protein nucleic acids” (PNAs) formed by conjugating bases to an amino acid backbone. This also includes nucleic acids containing modified bases, for example thio-uracil, thio-guanine and fluoro-uracil.

Polynucleotides may be flanked by natural regulatory sequences, or may be associated with heterologous sequences, including promoters, enhancers, response elements, signal sequences, polyadenylation sequences, introns, 5′- and 3′-non-coding regions, and the like, and may be modified by many means known in the art.

The term “gene”, means a DNA sequence that codes for or corresponds to a particular sequence of amino acids which comprise all or part of one or more proteins or enzymes, and may or may not include regulatory DNA sequences, such as promoter sequences, which determine, for example, the conditions under which the gene is expressed.

A “coding sequence” or a sequence “encoding” a polypeptide, protein or enzyme is a nucleotide sequence that, when expressed, results in the production of that polypeptide, protein or enzyme, i.e., the nucleotide sequence encodes an amino acid sequence for that polypeptide, protein or enzyme. Preferably, the coding sequence is a double-stranded DNA sequence that is transcribed and translated into a polypeptide in a cell in vitro or in vivo when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5′ (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3′ (carboxyl) terminus. A coding sequence can include, but is not limited to, prokaryotic sequences, cDNA from eukaryotic mRNA, genomic DNA sequences from eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian) DNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences. If the coding sequence is intended for expression in a eukaryotic cell, a polyadenylation signal and transcription termination sequence will usually be located 3′ to the coding sequence.

Transcriptional and translational control sequences are DNA regulatory sequences, such as promoters, enhancers, terminators, and the like, that provide for the expression of a coding sequence in a host cell. In eukaryotic cells, polyadenylation signals are control sequences.

A “promoter sequence” is a DNA regulatory region capable of binding RNA polymerase in a cell and initiating transcription of a downstream (3′ direction) coding sequence. For purposes of defining this invention, the promoter sequence is bounded at its 3′ terminus by the transcription initiation site and extends upstream (5′ direction) to include the minimum number of bases or elements necessary to initiate transcription at levels detectable above background. As described above, promoter DNA is a DNA sequence which initiates, regulates, or otherwise mediates or controls the expression of the coding DNA. A promoter may be “inducible”, meaning that it is influenced by the presence or amount of another compound (an “inducer”). For example, an inducible promoter includes those that initiate or increase the expression of a downstream coding sequence in the presence of a particular inducer compound. A “leaky” inducible promoter is a promoter that provides a high expression level in the presence of an inducer compound and a comparatively very low expression level, and at minimum a detectable expression level, in the absence of the inducer.

The terms “express” and “expression” mean allowing or causing the information in a gene or DNA fragment to become manifest, for example producing a protein by activating the cellular functions involved in transcription and translation of a corresponding gene or DNA sequence. A DNA sequence is expressed in or by a cell to form an “expression product” such as a protein. The expression product itself, e.g., the resulting protein or enzyme, may also be the to be “expressed” by the cell. A polynucleotide or polypeptide is expressed recombinantly, for example, when it is expressed or produced in a foreign host cell under the control of a foreign or native promoter, or in a native host cell under the control of a foreign promoter.

The term “transformation” means the introduction of a “foreign” (i.e. extrinsic or extracellular) gene, DNA or RNA sequence to a host cell, so that the host cell will express the introduced gene or DNA fragment to produce a desired substance, typically a protein or enzyme coded by the introduced gene or sequence. The introduced gene or sequence, which may also be called a “cloned” or “foreign” gene or sequence, may include regulatory or control sequences, such as start, stop, promoter, signal, secretion, or other sequences used by a cell's genetic machinery. The gene or sequence may include nonfunctional sequences or sequences with no known function. A host cell that receives and expresses introduced DNA or RNA has been “transformed” and is a “transformant” or a “clone.” The DNA or RNA introduced to a host cell can come from any source, including cells of the same genus or species as the host cell, or cells of a different genus or species.

The terms “vector”, “cloning vector” and “expression vector” mean the vehicle by which a DNA or RNA sequence (e.g., a foreign gene) can be introduced into a host cell, so as to transform the host and promote expression (e.g., transcription and translation) of the introduced sequence.

A common type of vector is a “plasmid”, which generally is a self-replicating molecule of double-stranded DNA. A plasmid can readily accept additional (foreign) DNA and which can readily be introduced into a suitable host cell. A plasmid vector often contains coding DNA and promoter DNA and has one or more restriction sites suitable for inserting foreign DNA. Promoter DNA and coding DNA may be from the same gene or from different genes, and may be from the same or different organisms. A large number of vectors, including plasmid vectors, have been described for replication and/or expression in a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic hosts. Non-limiting examples include pKK plasmids (Clontech), pUC plasmids, pET plasmids (Novagen, Inc., Madison, Wis.), pRSET or pREP plasmids (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.), or pMAL plasmids (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.), and many appropriate host cells, using methods disclosed or cited herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the relevant art. Recombinant cloning vectors will often include one or more replication systems for cloning or expression, one or more markers for selection in the host, e.g. antibiotic resistance, and one or more expression vectors. Routine experimentation in biotechnology can be used to determine which vectors are best suited for used with the present invention. In general, the choice of vector depends on the size of the polynucleotide sequence and the host cells to be used.

The term “expression system” means a host cell and compatible vector under suitable conditions, e.g. for the expression of a protein coded for by foreign DNA carried by the vector and introduced to the host cell. Common expression systems include bacteria (e.g., E. coli and B. subtilis) or yeast (e.g., S. cerevisiae) host cells and plasmid vectors, and insect host cells and Baculovirus vectors. As used herein, a “facile expression system” means any expression system that is foreign or heterologous to a selected polynucleotide or polypeptide, and which employs host cells that can be grown or maintained more advantageously than cells that are native or heterologous to the selected polynucleotide or polypeptide, or which can produce the polypeptide more efficiently or in higher yield. For example, the use of robust prokaryotic cells to express a protein of eukaryotic origin would be a facile expression system. Preferred facile expression systems include E. coli, B. subtilis, and S. cerevisiae, and reductively dechlorinating populations that are easy to cultivate (e.g., Anaeromyxobacter dehaloganans strains and Desulfitobacterium species) as host cells and for any suitable vector.

“Sequence-conservative variants” of a polynucleotide sequence are those in which a change of one or more nucleotides in a given codon position results in no alteration in the amino acid encoded at that position.

“Isolation” or “purification” of a polypeptide, protein or enzyme refers to the derivation of the polypeptide by removing it from its original environment (for example, from its natural environment if it is naturally occurring, or form from the host cell if it is produced by recombinant DNA methods). Methods for polypeptide purification are well known in the art, including, without limitation, preparative disc-gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, HPLC, reversed-phase HPLC, gel filtration, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, affinity, and partition chromatography, and countercurrent distribution. For some purposes, it is preferable to produce the polypeptide in a recombinant system in which the protein contains an additional sequence tag that facilitates purification, such as, but not limited to, a polyhistidine sequence. The polypeptide can then be purified from a crude lysate of the host cell by chromatography on an appropriate solid-phase matrix. Alternatively, antibodies produced against the protein or against peptides derived therefrom can be used as purification reagents. Other purification methods are possible. A purified polynucleotide or polypeptide may contain less than about 50%, preferably less than about 75%, and most preferably less than about 90%, of the cellular components with which it was originally associated. A “substantially pure” enzyme indicates the highest degree of purity that can be achieved using conventional purification techniques known in the art.

Polynucleotides are “hybridizable” to each other when at least one strand of one polynucleotide can anneal to another polynucleotide under defined stringency conditions. Stringency of hybridization is determined, e.g., by the temperature at which hybridization and/or washing is performed, and b) the ionic strength and polarity (e.g., formamide) of the hybridization and washing solutions, as well as other parameters. Hybridization requires that the two polynucleotides contain substantially complementary sequences; depending on the stringency of hybridization, however, mismatches may be tolerated. Typically, hybridization of two sequences at high stringency (such as, for example, in an aqueous solution of 0.5×SSC at 65° C.) requires that the sequences exhibit some high degree of complementarity over their entire sequence. Conditions of intermediate stringency (such as, for example, an aqueous solution of 2×SSC at 65° C.) and low stringency (such as, for example, an aqueous solution of 2×SSC at 55° C.), require correspondingly less overall complementarity between the hybridizing sequences. (1×SSC is 0.15 M NaCl, 0.015 M Na citrate.) Polynucleotides that “hybridize” to the polynucleotides herein may be of any length. In one embodiment, such polynucleotides are at least 10, preferably at least 15 and most preferably at least 20 nucleotides long. In another embodiment, polynucleotides that hybridize are of about the same length. In another embodiment, polynucleotides that hybridize include those which anneal under suitable stringency conditions and which encode polypeptides, proteins or enzymes having the same function, such as the ability to catalyze an oxidation, oxygenase, or coupling reaction.

Identification of RDase Genes

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides polynucleotide fragments which may be useful as primers and probes for the identification of genes encoding reductive dehalogenases (RDases). In one embodiment, the invention provides polynucleotide fragments useful for the isolation of RDase genes by aligning conserved regions of full-length protein and DNA sequences of TceA and RDases. Examples of such primers are shown in Table 1, below.

TABLE 1 Polynucleotide fragments Primer Nucleotide Sequence Target RRF2 5′-SHMGBMGWGATTTYATGAARR-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 34) RRXFXK motif B1R 5′-CHADHAGCCAYTCRTACCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 35) WYEW motif ^(a) Abbreviations of degenerate nucleotides: R = A/G; K = G/T; M = A/C; S = C/G; W = A/T; Y = C/T; B = C/G/T; D = A/G/T; V = A/C/G; H = A/C/T.

The invention also provides PCR primer pairs and probes useful in the identification of RDase genes, as well as a number of polynucleotide fragments encoding at least a portion of several RDases. The PCR primer pairs, probes and polynucleotide fragments of the present invention may be used to isolate cDNAs and genes encoding homologous proteins from the same or other dechlorinating bacteria species.

Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to, methods of nucleic acid hybridization, and methods of DNA and RNA amplification as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies (e.g., PCR, ligase chain reaction).

For example, genes encoding other RDases, either as cDNAs or genomic DNAs, could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant polynucleotide fragments as DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from any desired dechlorinating bacterial population employing methodology well known to those skilled in the art. Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant nucleic acid sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook, et al. 2001). Moreover, an entire sequence can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan such as random primer DNA labeling, nick translation, end-labeling techniques, or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems. In addition, specific primers can be designed and used to amplify a part or all of the instant sequences. The resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate full length cDNA or genomic fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.

In addition, two short segments of the instant polynucleotide fragments may be used in PCR protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous genes from DNA or RNA. The PCR may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments to identify nucleotide sequences encoding bacterial reductive dehalogenases.

Alternatively, the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector. For example, the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:8998-9002) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3′ or 5′ end. Primers oriented in the 3′ and 5′ directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3′ RACE or 5′ RACE systems, specific 3′ or 5′ cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86:5673-5677; Loh et al. (1989) Science 243:217-220). Products generated by the 3′ and 5′ RACE procedures can be combined to generate full-length cDNAs (Frohman and Martin (1989) Techniques 1:165). Consequently, a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of about at least about 30 contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1-8 and the complement of such nucleotide sequences may be used in such methods to obtain a nucleic acid fragment encoding a substantial portion of an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide.

Identifications Use and Expression of RDase Polypeptides

In certain additional embodiments, the present invention provides a method of obtaining a polynucleotide fragment encoding a RDase polypeptide, preferably a substantial portion of a RDase polypeptide, comprising the steps of: (i) synthesizing a pair of oligonucleotide primers comprising, wherein each oligonucleotide primer comprises preferably at least about 10, more preferably at least about 15, and still more preferably at least about 25 contiguous nucleotides derived from a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1-8; and (ii) amplifying a polynucleotide fragment (preferably a cDNA inserted in a cloning vector) using the oligonucleotide primer pair. The amplified polynucleotide fragment preferably will encode a portion of a RDase polypeptide that occurs between the two primers.

In one embodiment, the availability of the instant nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences facilitates immunological screening of cDNA expression libraries. Synthetic peptides representing portions of the instant amino acid sequences may be synthesized. These peptides can be used to immunize animals to produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with specificity for peptides or proteins comprising the amino acid sequences. These antibodies can be then be used to screen cDNA expression libraries to isolate full-length cDNA clones of interest (see e.g., Sambrook et al. 2001).

In another embodiment, this invention concerns viruses and host cells comprising either the recombinant expression vectors as described herein or an any one of the isolated polynucleotides of the present invention described herein. Examples of host cells which can be used to practice the present invention include, but are not limited to, yeast, bacteria and insect.

Plasmid vectors comprising the instant isolated polynucleotide may be constructed. The choice of plasmid vector is dependent upon the method that will be used to transform a host organism, e.g., yeast, bacterial cell or insect. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the plasmid vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the recombinant expression vector. The skilled artisan will also recognize that different independent transformation events will result in different levels and patterns of expression (Jones et al. (1985) EMBO J 4:2411-2418; De Almeida et al. (1989). Mol. Gen. Genetics 218:78-86), and thus that multiple events must be screened in order to obtain lines displaying the desired expression level and pattern. Such screening may be accomplished by Southern analysis of DNA, Northern analysis of mRNA expression, Western analysis of protein expression, or phenotypic analysis.

Genetic Mapping

The isolated polynucleotides of the present invention may be used as probes for the genetic and physical mapping of the genes they are a part of, and may further be used as markers for traits linked to those genes. Such information may be useful in the art to identify and develop strains of dechlorinating bacteria capable of reducing vinyl and other chloroorganic contaminants. For example, the instant polynucleotide fragments may be used as probes to detect restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) that identify bacterial populations with the dechlorinating activity of interest. Southern blots (see, e.g., Sambrook, et al. 2001) of restriction-digested bacterial genomic DNA may be probed with the polynucleotide fragments of the instant invention. The resulting banding patterns may then be subjected to genetic analyses using computer programs such as MapMaker (Lander et al. (1987) Genomics 1:174-181) to construct a genetic map.

The isolated polynucleotide fragments may also be used to probe Southern blots containing restriction endonuclease-treated genomic DNAs of a set of individuals representing parent and progeny of a defined genetic cross. Segregation of the DNA polymorphisms is noted and used to calculate the position of the instant polynucleotide sequence in the genetic map previously obtained using this population (Botstein et al. (1980) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 32:314-331).

Additionally, the isolated polynucleotides of the present invention may be used in a variety of polynucleotide amplification-based methods of genetic and physical mapping. Examples include allele-specific amplification (Kazazian (1989) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 11:95-96), polymorphism of PCR-amplified fragments (CAPS; Sheffield et al. (1993) Genomics 16:325-332), allele-specific ligation (Landegren et al. (1988) Science 241:1077-1080), nucleotide extension reactions (Sokolov (1990) Polynucleotide Res. 18:3671), Radiation Hybrid Mapping (Walter et al. (1997) Nat. Genet. 7:22-28) and Happy Mapping (Dear and Cook (1989) Polynucleotide Res. 17:6795-6807). For these methods, the sequence of a polynucleotide fragment is used to design and produce primer pairs for use in the amplification reaction or in primer extension reactions. The design of such primers is well known to those skilled in the art. In methods employing PCR-based genetic mapping, it may be necessary to identify DNA sequence differences between the parents of the mapping cross in the region corresponding to the instant polynucleotide sequence. This, however, is generally not necessary for mapping methods.

Hybridization Techniques for the Detection of Dechlorinating Bacteria

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of detecting dechlorinating bacteria using the polynucleotides disclosed herein as hybridization probes. The probe length can vary from 5 bases to thousands of bases. Preferably however, the probe is at least 10, more preferably at least 15 and most preferably at least 20 nucleotides in length. Probes may also be, for example, about 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 nucleotides in length. Only part of the probe molecule need be complementary to the nucleic acid sequence to be detected and the complementary portion need not be identical. Hence, all or part of the aforementioned lengths may be complementary to the polynucleotide sequence to be detected. The probe may be RNA or DNA or a synthetic nucleic acid. In each instance a probe will contain a sequence sufficiently complementary to the nucleic acid from the dechlorinating bacteria to be detected, and that will permit hybridization between the probe and the subject DNA.

In certain embodiments the probe is a polynucleotide that is substantially complementary to a fragment or the entire the polynucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a RDase. In preferred embodiment, the probe may be selected from a fragment or the an entire polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1-8. More preferably, the probe is selected from a fragment or the entire polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Hybridization methods are well known in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook, et al. 2001). Typically, the probe and sample are mixed under conditions that permit nucleic acid hybridization. This involves contacting the probe and sample in the presence of an inorganic or organic salt under the proper concentration and temperature conditions. The probe and sample nucleic acids must be in contact for a sufficient time that any possible hybridization between the probe and sample nucleic acid may occur. The concentration of probe or target in the mixture will determine the time necessary for hybridization to occur. The higher the probe or target concentration, the shorter the hybridization incubation time needed.

In certain embodiments, hybridization assays may be conducted directly on bacterial lysates, without the need to extract the nucleic acids. This eliminates several steps from the sample-handling process and speeds up the assay. To perform such assays on crude cell lysates, a chaotropic agent is typically added to the cell lysates prepared as described above. The chaotropic agent stabilizes nucleic acids by inhibiting nuclease activity. Furthermore, the chaotropic agent allows sensitive and stringent hybridization of short oligonucleotide probes to RNA at room temperature (Van Ness and Chen (1991) Nucl. Acids Res. 19:5143-5151). Suitable chaotropic agents include guanidinium chloride, guanidinium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, lithium tetrachloroacetate, sodium perchlorate, rubidium tetrachloroacetate, potassium iodide, and cesium trifluoroacetate, among others. Typically, the chaotropic agent will be present at a final concentration of about 3 M. If desired, one can add formamide to the hybridization mixture, typically 30-50% (v/v).

Various hybridization solutions can be employed. Typically, these comprise from about 20 to 60% volume, preferably 30%, of a polar organic solvent. A common hybridization solution comprises about 30-50% v/v formamide, about 0.15 to 1 M sodium chloride, about 0.05 to 0.1 M buffer, such as sodium citrate, Tris-HCl, PIPES or HEPES (pH range about 6-9), about 0.05 to 0.2% detergent, such as sodium dodecylsulfate, and between 0.5-20 mM EDTA, FICOLL™ (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J.) (about 300-500 kDa), polyvinylpyrrolidone (about 250-500 kDa), and serum albumin. Also included in the typical hybridization solution, will be from about 0.1 to 5 mg/ml, unlabeled carrier nucleic acids, e.g., fragmented calf thymus or salmon sperm DNA, or yeast RNA, and optionally from about 0.5 to 2% wt/vol glycine. Other additives may also be included, such as volume exclusion agents which include a variety of polar water-soluble or swellable agents, such as polyethylene glycol, anionic polymers such as polyacrylate or polymethylacrylate, and anionic saccharidic polymers, such as dextran sulfate.

Hybridization is adaptable to a variety of assay formats. One of the most suitable is the sandwich assay format. The sandwich assay is particularly adaptable to hybridization under non-denaturing conditions. A primary component of a sandwich-type assay is a solid support. The solid support has adsorbed to it or covalently coupled to it immobilized nucleic acid probe that is unlabeled and complementary to one portion of the nucleic acid to be detected, e.g., nucleic acid encoding for a reductive dehalogenase. Preferred are those probes are those described above. Probes particularly useful in the present embodiment are those polynucleotides which are substantially complementary to a fragment or the entire the polynucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a RDase, and in particular to those which are substantially complementary to any one of the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1-8.

The sandwich assay may be encompassed in an assay kit. A kit may include a first component for the collection of samples from soil or groundwater, such as vials for containment, and buffers for the disbursement and lysis of the sample. A second component may include media in either dry or liquid form for the hybridization of target and probe polynucleotides, as well as for the removal of undesirable and nonduplexed forms by washing. A third component includes a solid support (dipstick) upon which is fixed or to which is conjugated unlabeled nucleic acid probe(s) that is (are) complementary to a part of a nucleic acid encoding for a reductive dehalogenase of the species of bacteria being tested.

PCR Based Detection of Dechlorinating Bacteria

In an another embodiment, the polynucleotides of the present invention may be used as primers in primer directed nucleic acid amplification, i.e., PCR, to detect the presence of the target gene(s) in the dechlorinating wild type bacteria. Methods of PCR primer design are well known in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook, et al. 2001; Hemdon, Va.; and Rychlik, W. (1993) In White, B. A. (ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 15, pp 31-39, PCR Protocols: Current Methods and Applications. Humania Press, Inc., Totowa, N.J., see also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195; 4,683,2020; 4,965,188; and 4,800,159, which are hereby incorporated by reference).

Typically, detection of dechlorinating bacteria using PCR involves the amplification of DNA or cDNA obtained from a sample suspected of having dechlorinating activity. The isolated DNA or cDNA (from mRNA) is amplified using a pair of oligonucleotide primers having regions complementary to only one of the stands in the target. A primer refers to an oligonucleotide that can be extended with a DNA polymerase using monodeoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and a nucleic acid that is used as a template. This primer preferably has a 3′ hydroxyl group on an end that is facing the 5′ end of the template nucleic acid when it is hybridized with the template.

A set of primers refers to a combination or mixture of at least a first (forward) and a second (reverse) primer. The first primer can be extended using the template nucleic acid while forming an extension product in such a way that the second primer can hybridize with this extension product in a region of the extension product that lies in the 3′ direction of the extendable end of the first primer. The extendable end of the second primer points in the 5′ direction of the extension product of the first primer. Examples of primers that are suitable for performing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and that meet this definition are described in European Patent Application No. 0201184, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Typical amplicons range in size from 25 bp to 2000 bp (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,025). Larger sized amplicons can be obtained, typically using specialized conditions or modified polymerases.

The primers of the present invention are designed to be specific to regions of the bvcA genes identified herein. Useful primers include, but are not limited to, those having the polynucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 9-22. In a preferred embodiment the first primer is the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO.: 14 and the second primer is the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 21.

Following amplification, the products of PCR may be detected using any one of a variety of PCR detection methods are known in the art including standard non-denaturing gel electrophoresis (e.g., acrylamide or agarose), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Standard non-denaturing gel electrophoresis is the simplest and quickest method of PCR detection, but may not be suitable for all applications.

Real Time PCR Based Detection of Dechlorinating Bacteria

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of detecting dechlorinating bacteria using Real-Time PCR (“RTm PCR”). RTm PCR is a further enhancement to the standard PCR, described above. RTm-PCR allows contemporaneous quantification of a sample of interest, for example a bacteria population having a polynucleotide sequence of interest.

In RTm PCR, a fluorogenically labeled oligonucleotide probe is used in addition to the primer sets which are employed in standard PCR. The probe, in RTm PCR anneals to a sequence on the target DNA found between a first (forward, 5′ primer) and second (reverse, 3′ primer) PCR primer binding sites and consists of an oligonucleotide with a 5′-reporter dye (e.g., FAM, 6-carboxyfluorescein) and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, 6-carboxytetramethylrhodamine) which quenches the emission spectra of the reporter dye as long as both dyes are attached to the probe. The probe signals the formation of PCR amplicons by a process involving the polymerase-induced nucleolytic degradation of the double-labeled fluorogenic probe that anneals to the target template at a site between the two primer recognition sequences (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,652).

The measurement of the released fluorescent emission following each round of PCR amplification (Heid et al., (1996) Genome Research, 6:986-994) thus forms the basis for quantifying the amount of target nucleic acid present in a sample at the initiation of the PCR reaction. Since the exponential accumulation of the fluorescent signal directly reflects the exponential accumulation of the PCR amplification product, this reaction is monitored in real time. Hardware, such as the model 7700 and model 7900HT Sequence Detection Systems, available from Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) can be used to automate the detection and quantitative measurement of these signals, which are stoichiometrically related to the quantities of amplicons produced. From the output data of the RTm PCR, quantification from a reliable back calculation to the input target DNA sequence is possible using standard curves generated with known amounts of template DNA.

Primers and probes useful in RTm PCR identification and quantification of a bacteria population having a polynucleotide sequence of interest may be designed to correspond to the polynucleotide of interest. In one embodiment of the present invention, primers and probes useful in RTm PCR correspond to regions of the bvcA genes identified herein. Primers useful in the present embodiment include, but are not limited to, those having the polynucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 9-22. Useful RTm PCR probes include, but are not limited to, those polynucleotide which hybridize to any one SEQ ID NO: 1-8. In a preferred embodiment, the PCR primer pair and probe for use in RTm PCR consist of a first (forward) primer having the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, a second (reverse) primer having the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 and probe having the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.

RTm PCR may be used to identify and quantify a population of dechlorinating bacteria having a polynucleotide sequence of interest by first isolating DNA from a sample suspected of having dechlorinating activity using any one of the methods known in the art (see e.g., He, J. et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:485-495). The isolated DNA may be amplified using RTm PCR by contacting the sample with any one of the probes described above, and any one of the primer pairs described above. Preferably, the probe is fluorogenically labeled. For example, the probe is labeled with 6-carboxy-fluorescein (FAM) as a reporter fluorochrome on the 5′ end, and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-6-carboxy-rhodamine (TAMRA) as quencher on the 3′ end. The isolated DNA sample is subjected to RTm PCR using any one of the RTm PCR protocols known in the art, such as the RTm PCR protocol described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/474,831, which is hereby incorporated by reference. During the course of PCR the fluorescent signal generated by the reaction may be continuously monitored using detection hardware, such as the model 7700 and model 7900HT Sequence Detection Systems, available from Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.).

The amount of dechlorinating bacteria containing the polynucleotide sequence of interest, present in the sample may be determined using RTm PCR, by comparing the results of the RTm PCR assay described above to a calibration curve. A calibration curve (log DNA concentration versus arbitrarily set cycle threshold value, C_(T)) may be obtained using serial dilutions of DNA of known concentration. The C_(T) values obtained for each sample may be compared with the standard curve to determine the DNA concentration of Dehalococcoides. Using an average molecular weight of 660 for a base pair in dsDNA, one reductive dehalogenase gene operon per Dehalococcoides genome, and a genome size of 1.5 Mbp (www.tigr.org), the following equation may be used to ascertain the number of Dehalococcoides-derived reductive dehalogenase gene copies that were present in the DNA obtained from 1 ml of the dechlorinating enrichment culture:

${{Reductive}\mspace{14mu}{dehalogenase}\mspace{14mu}{gene}{\mspace{11mu}\;}{copies}\text{/}{ml}} = \frac{{DNA}\mspace{14mu}\left( {{µg}\text{/}{ml}} \right) \times 6.023 \times 10^{23}}{\left. {\left( {1.5 \times 10^{6} \times 660} \right) \times 10^{6}} \right)}$

EXAMPLES

The present invention is further exemplified in the following non-limiting Examples. Unless otherwise stated, parts and percentages are by weight and degrees are Celsius. As apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, these Examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only.

Chemicals were purchased from Aldrich (Milwaukee, Wis.) or Sigma Chemical Co. (St Louis, Mo.), except for VC, which was obtained from Fluka Chemical Corp. (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.). Restriction enzymes were purchased from Promega Biosciences, Inc. (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), and enzymes used for cell lysis were from Sigma Chemical Co. PCR reagents were purchased from Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.), and BSA was purchased from Roche (Mannheim, Germany).

Example 1 Isolation of DNA from VC-Dechlorinating Cultures

Genomic DNA was obtained from pure cultures of Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1, and several VC-dechlorinating enrichment cultures derived from river sediments (the Red Cedar, Au Sable and Père Marquette Rivers, all three in Michigan (Löffler F., et al. (2000) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:1369-1374) and chloroethene-contaminated aquifers (the Minerva site in Ohio, the Hydrite Chemical site in Wisconsin, and the Bachman Road site in Michigan (Lenvay, J., et al. (2003) Environ. Sci. Tech. 37:1422-1431).

VC-dechlorinating cultures were grown in 160-ml serum bottles containing 100 ml reduced basal salts medium amended with acetate (2 mM) as a carbon source, hydrogen (0.2 mmoles) as electron donor, and VC (0.12 mmoles) as electron acceptor as described by He, J., et al. (2003) Nature 424:62-65.

Genomic DNA was also available from isolates Dehalococcoides sp. strain CBDB1, Dehalococcoides sp. strain FL2, Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195, and PCE-to-ethene-dechlorinating mixed cultures successfully employed in bioaugmentation approaches in the field (Major, D., et al. (2002) Environ. Sci. Technol. 36:5106-5116) and Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM (www.regenesis.com), a culture based on the Bachman Road site inoculum (Lenvay, J., et al. (2003) Environ. Sci. Tech. 37:1422-1431), and the VC-to-ethene-dechlorinating Victoria culture containing strain VS (Cupples A., et al. (2003) Appl. Environ. Micobiol. 69:953-959).

Example 2 Identification of RDase Genes

RDase genes were identified by amplifying genomic DNA using specially designed PCR primer pairs targeted to known conserved regions of RDase genes. Clone libraries were established by cloning the resulting amplicons in E. coli. The sequences of the cloned gene fragments contained in the clone libraries were compared with known RDase gene sequences.

Primer Design

Multiple alignments of full-length protein and DNA sequences of TceA (AAN85590, AAN85588, AAF73916A) and RDases identified from the genome of Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195 were constructed using ClustalW and ClustalX (see, e.g., Thompson, J., et al. (1997) Nucleic Acid Res. 25:4876-4882). Conserved amino acid sequences were identified and used to design degenerate PCR primers. The following conserved regions were targeted for designing forward and reverse primers, respectively a di-arginine containing stretch near the amino-terminus of the RDases (i.e., RRXFXK) and a region in the B gene (i.e., WYEW). The expected size of amplicons generated with these primers ranged from 1,500-1,700 bp. The degenerate primer set used in this study and its target sequences are listed in Table 1. Specific primer sets (Table 2) targeting each of the RDases identified in the clone libraries (see below) were designed using Primerquest (http://biotools.idtdna.com/Primerquest/).

PCR, Cloning, and Amplicon Analysis.

DNA from VC-dechlorinating pure and mixed cultures was extracted using the Qiagen mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) as described previously (He, J. et al. (2003) Nature 424:62-65). Extracted DNA was used as template for amplification with degenerate primers RRF2 and B1 R (Table 1). PCR reactions were performed in total volumes of 30 μl with final concentration of reactants as follows: GeneAmp® PCR buffer (1×), MgCl₂ (3.0 mM), BSA (0.13 mg/ml), dNTPs (0.25 mM each), primers (0.5 μM each), Taq DNA polymerase (2 units), and DNA (1-2 ng/μl).

PCR conditions included an initial denaturation step at 94° C. for 2 min 10 sec, followed by 30 cycles of 94° C. for 30 sec, 48° C. for 45 sec, and 72° C. for 2 min 10 sec, and a final extension step at 72° C. for 6 min. The same conditions were used for amplification with the specific primers listed in Table 2 except that the primer concentrations were 0.1 μM, the MgCl₂ concentration was 2.0 mM, and the annealing temperature was 51° C. Amplicons generated from strain BAV1 genomic DNA with primers RRF2 and B1R were purified using the QIAquick™ PCR purification kit (Qiagen), ligated into vector pCR2.1 by TA cloning (TOPO or TA cloning kit, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and cloned in competent E. coli cells provided with the cloning kit following manufacturer recommendations.

TABLE 2 Specific Primers Specific Gene SEQ ID Primers Primer Sequence 5′→3′ targeted NO bavrdA1F GTACCGATGATGATTCACG rdhA1_(BAv1) 9 bavrdA1R AGCCATACATGTCCCGCAA rdhA1_(BAv1) 16 bavrdA2F TGCAAGCAGGTTCCCAT rdhA2_(BAv1) 10 bavrdA2R GGCTTGATGTTAAACCC rdhA2_(BAv1) 17 bavrdA3F GATTATGCTTTGTTTGGG rdhA3_(BAv1) 11 bavrdA3R TTAGAACAACCACCAGGC rdhA3_(BAv1) 18 bavrdA4F ATGCCATGTATTCGGTC rdhA4_(BAv1) 12 bavrdA4R TCAACCCTCCAGCCTTTA rdhA4_(BAv1) 19 bavrdA5F GTTAATGTTGCGAAGGCT rdhA5_(BAv1) 13 bavrdA5R CATGGTCTTTTCCATATTGGC rdhA5_(BAv1) 20 bvcAF TGCCTCAAGTACAGGTGGT rdhA6_(BAv1)- 14 bvcA bvcAR ATTGTGGAGGACCTACCT rdhA6_(BAv1) 21 bvcA bavrdA7F AAACTGCTCAGGGTTG rdhA7_(BAv1) 15 bavrdA7R TTGCCCGGAACACTGTA rdhA7_(BAv1) 22

Recombinant E. coli clones were screened by verifying the correct insert size using direct PCR with primers targeting the pCR2.1 cloning vector flanking the inserted fragment. Amplicons of the predicted length were digested individually with the enzymes MspI and HhaI (Promega Biosciences), as per manufacturer recommendations for Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Plasmid DNA from recombinant clones containing the different inserts was extracted using the Qiaprep™ spin miniprep kit (Qiagen), and partially sequenced with vector specific primers using an ABI 3100 genetic analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.).

A second clone library was established using the same procedure with genomic DNA from the Bachman enrichment culture, from which strain BAV1 was isolated. Inserts of the predicted length were analyzed with BLASTX to verify similarity and the presence of consensus sequences indicative of RDase genes. Further, DNA sequences were translated using the TRANSLATE program (http://us.expasy.org/tools/dna.html) into amino acid sequences to examine for known RDase motifs. Partial protein sequences were aligned using the programs clustalW and clustalX. The designation of RDase genes was adapted from Villemur, R. et al. (2002) Can. J. Microbiol. 48:697-706.

The degenerate primer pair RRF2 and B1R produced fragments of the expected size and a total of seven clones were recovered in the clone library generated with DNA from the VC-dechlorinating Bachman mixed culture. Restriction analysis identified five clone types with distinct inserts, designated rdhA1-5_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 2-6). In a second clone library constructed with strain BAV1 pure culture DNA, 54 clones were recovered, and two additional RDase sequences were identified, i.e., rdhA6_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 7) and rdhA7_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 8). No clones harboring rdhA3_(BAV1), rdhA4_(BAV1), or rdhA5_(BAV1) were identified in the second BAV1 clone library but subsequent PCR analysis using primer pairs targeting each of the rdhA1-7_(BAV1) sequences, demonstrated the presence of all RDase fragments in isolate BAV1 and in the Bachman mixed culture from which BAV1 was isolated (see, He, J. et al. (2003) Nature 424:62-65).

Example 3 Expression and Analysis of RDase Genes

RNA Isolation

Biomass was collected by centrifugation and cell pellets were immediately frozen at −70° C. All solutions used for RNA extraction were prepared with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC)-treated water, free of DNases and RNases-. Total RNA was extracted using the RNeasy extraction kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's recommendations with the following modifications to enhance cell lysis and RNA yields. The cell pellet was suspended in 100 μl lysozyme digestion buffer (30 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0, 15 mg/ml lysozyme), 20 μl proteinase K (25 mg/ml) and 10 μl achromopeptidase (1,800 U/μl). The suspension was mixed and incubated at room temperature for 10 min, before 50 μl 0.1% Triton X-100 was added, and the mixture was shaken vigorously for 10 sec. Lysis buffer RLT (350 μl, provided with the RNeasy extraction kit) was added, and the lysate was transferred into a MicroRNA Bead Tube (Mo Bio Laboratories, Carlsbad, Calif.) and shaken horizontally on a Vortex mixer at maximum speed for 10 min. DNA was removed by two consecutive on-column treatments with RNase-free DNase (Qiagen) as described by the manufacturer. RNA concentrations were determined spectrophotometrically at 260 nm using an HP 8453 photodiodearray UV/Vis spectrophotometer.

Expression Analysis of RDase Genes

Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed with the two-step RT-PCR sensiscript kit (Qiagen). First, reverse transcription reactions were performed with 1 mM random hexamer primers (Promega) and 5-50 ng of extracted RNA in a total volume of 20 μl for 3 hrs at 37° C. according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Then, PCR was performed with degenerate primers RRF2 and B1R (Table 1) or with specific primers (Table 2) using the PCR conditions specified above. RT-PCR amplification products were examined by gel electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gels, and amplicons generated with primers RRF2 and B1R were cloned using the TOPO TA cloning kit. Recombinant E. coli clones were identified as described above, and the inserts were characterized by restriction analysis and sequenced. For nested PCR, the initial amplification was performed with primers RRF2 and B1R, and (1 μl) of the amplified product was used as template in a second round of PCR with the specific primers listed in Table 2.

PCR amplification with degenerate primers RRF2 and B1R using cDNA obtained from VC-grown BAV1 cells as template yielded a PCR fragment of the expected size (approximately 1,700 bp). In contrast, no amplification occurred without the RT-PCR step, confirming that all DNA was successfully removed from the RNA preparation, and that the observed 1,700 bp amplicon was generated from mRNA. Amplification of cDNA occurred with degenerate primers RRF2 and B1R targeting the reductase internal RRXFXK motif and the WYEW sequence in the B gene, respectively, indicating that both genes are co-transcribed. A clone library generated with the PCR-amplified cDNA contained a single insert, and RFLP and sequence analyses of six clones confirmed that the cloned fragments were identical to rdhA6_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 7).

Transcription of the VC RDase found in the cDNA clone library was explored in more detail using the specific primer pair bvcAF and bvcAR (Table 2). PCR reactions using cDNA generated from VC-grown BAV1 cultures as template yielded amplicons of the correct size, which are shown in FIG. 2 (DNA size marker 50-2000 bp (Biorad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) (lane 1); BAV1 cDNA (lane 2); BAV1 total RNA (lane 3); BAV1 genomic DNA (lane 4), FL2 cDNA (lane 5), FL2 total RNA (lane 6), FL2 genomic DNA (lane 7); H₂O (lane 8), plasmid DNA containing rdhA6_(BAV1) gene fragment (lane 9)), and sequence analysis confirmed their identity. No amplicons were obtained when total RNA extracts were used as template, confirming that no residual genomic DNA was present (FIG. 2). An additional control shown in FIG. 2 involved cDNA obtained from a cis-DCE-grown culture of Dehalococcoides sp. strain FL2. No amplicons were obtained with primer pair bvcAF and bvcAR, which was expected since strain FL2 cannot grow with VC as electron acceptor.

Seven RDase gene fragments were identified in strain BAV1, however, rdhA6_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 7) was the only RDase gene fragment present in a cDNA clone library established with total RNA obtained from VC-grown BAV1 cultures. PCR reactions performed with the specific primers listed in Table 2 and cDNA as template confirmed these findings, and amplification only occurred with the bvcAF/bvcAR primer pair targeting the rdhA6_(BAV1) sequence. To test if the six other RDase genes were expressed at lower levels, the PCR product generated from cDNA with primer pair RRF2/B1R was used for a subsequent nested PCR with the specific primer pairs listed in Table 2. These analyses suggested that genes contributing to fragments rdhA1_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 2), rdhA3_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 4), rdhA4_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 5), rdhA5_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 6), and rdhA7_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 8) were also expressed, but at significantly lower levels than rdhA6_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 7). The only RDase gene not transcribed at detectable levels in VC-grown BAV1 cells correlated with fragment rdhA2_(BAV1) (SEQ ID NO: 3).

Example 4 Chromosome Walking and Assembling the bvcA Coding Sequence

To extend the reductive dehalogenase gene fragment rdhA6_(BAV1), the TOPO Walker kit from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.) was used with primers 5Bfcomp (5′ACCACCTGTACTTGAGGCA-3′; SEQ ID NO: 36), and 5BGR (5′ACCCGACAAAGAACTGGTTTCG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 37). The primer binding sites are illustrated in FIG. 1.

Purified genomic DNA of strain BAV1 was digested with Pst I and Sac I for 2 hrs at 37° C. The digested DNA was dephosphorylated using calf alkaline phosphatase and precipitated with phenol:chloroform (1:1 pH 6.7) following the TOPO Walker manual. Primer extension with primer 5Bfcomp at an annealing temperature of 55° C. created a 3′ overhang required for TOPO linking. TOPO linking was performed as to manufacturer's recommendations, and the TOPO-linked DNA was then subjected to amplification with primer 5BGr at an annealing temperature of 57° C. Amplification was verified on 1% agarose gels.

The 305 bp product was purified using the Qiaquick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen) and cloned into E. coli using the cloning Kit (Invitrogen). Primers M13F and M13R were used to PCR amplify the cloned fragment according to the protocol for ‘alternative method of analysis’ provided with the TOPO XL PCR Cloning kit. The purified PCR product containing the 305 bp insert was sequenced using primers M13F and M13R. This sequence was aligned with the previously obtained rdhA6_(BAV1) gene fragment sequence, and the coding region was determined using Frameplot. Ishikawa, J., et al. (1999) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 174:251-253.

Expression Analysis of RDase Genes

Since the fragments generated with primer pair RRF2 and B1R lacked approximately 30 bp on the 3′ end of the RDase genes, the rdhA6_(BAV1) gene fragment was extended and the missing upstream portion of the RDase gene was obtained. The complete gene implicated in VC reductive dechlorination in Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1 was designated bvcA (SEQ ID NO: 1). The translated BvcA protein sequence contained the twin arginine motif (RRXFXK) in the form RRDFMK. The chromosomal organization of the bvcA region is shown in FIG. 1. The deduced coding sequence of bvcA is 1,550 nucleotides long, which is predicted to encode a 516 amino acid protein. A second incomplete open reading frame for the B gene bvcB was found 51 nucleotides downstream of the bvcA stop codon TAA.

The coding sequences of the RDase gene and B gene fragments were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers AY553222-AY553228 (SEQ ID NO: 2-8). GenBank accession number AY563562 (SEQ ID NO: 1) was assigned to the complete sequence of the VC reductive dehalogenase bvcA. The complete sequences of the isolated RDase genes and B gene fragments are shown in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Isolated nucleic acid sequences GENE: bvcA SEQ ID NO: 1 ATGCATAATTTCCATTGTACGATAAGTAGGCGAGATTTTATGAAGGGATT GGGGTTAGCGGGAGCAGGGATAGGTGCCGCGACTTCAGTTATGCCGAATT TTCACGACTTGGATGAAGTAATTTCTGCTGCTAGTGCCGAAACCAGTTCT TTGTCGGGTAAATCTCTTAATAATTTTCCTTGGTATGTGAAAGAAAGGGA TTTTGAAAATCCTACCATTGATATAGATTGGTCTATACTTGCGCGTAATG ACGGTTACAATCATCAGGGAGCCTATTGGGGACCTGTACCTGAAAATGGA GATGATAAAAGGTATCCTGATCCCGCGGACCAGTGTCTTACTCTACCAGA AAAGAGAGATCTTTATTTAGCGTGGGCAAAACAGCAATTTCCTGACTGGG AACCAGGAATTAATGGCCATGGGCCAACAAGGGACGAAGCTTTATGGTTT GCCTCAAGTACAGGTGGTATCGGTAGGTATAGAATTCCTGGTACCCAGCA AATGATGTCCACAATGCGTCTTGACGGGTCTACTGGTGGTTGGGGTTATT TCAATCAACCACCGGCAGCAGTCTGGGGAGGGAAATACCCAAGGTGGGAA GGAACTCCTGAAGAGAATACGTTGATGATGCGAACTGTTTGTCAATTTTT TGGTTACTCCAGTATAGGTGTAATGCCAATCACCAGCAATACAAAGAAGC TTTTTTTTGAAAAGCAAATACCTTTCCAATTTATGGCTGGAGATCCCGGT GTATTTGGGGGAACGGGAAATGTGCAGTTTGATGTCCCGCTGCCAAAGAC ACCTGTTCCAATAGTCTGGGAGGAAGTCGATAAAGGGTATTATAATGACC AGAAAATTGTAATACCCAATAAGGCTAACTGGGTATTAACAATGACAATG CCTTTACCAGAAGATCGTTTTAAACGTTCTCTAGGGTGGTCACTTGACGC TTCAAGTATGATTGCCTATCCTCAGATGGCTTTTAATGGAGGCCGAGTTC AGACTTTTTTAAAAGCACTTGGCTATCAAGGACTTGGTGGCGACGTGGCT ATGTGGGGACCTGGTGGTGCTTTTGGAGTTATGAGTGGTCTTTCCGAACA AGGTCGTGCTGCTAATGAAATCAGCCCCAAATACGGTTCGGCAACTAAGG GCTCTAATCGATTAGTTTGTGATTTGCCCATGGTTCCGACCAAGCCAATT GATGCTGGCATACACAAATTCTGTGAAACGTGTGGCATTTGTACAACAGT TTGTCCCTCAAATGCTATCCAGGTAGGTCCTCCACAATGGAGTAATAATC GGTGGGATAATACCCCTGGTTATCTTGGTTATCGACTTAACTGGGGTAGA TGTGTTCTTTGTACAAACTGTGAGACCTATTGCCCATTTTTTAACATGAC TAATGGTTCTTTGATTCATAACGTAGTCAGATCCACAGTTGCAGCTACAC CGGTTTTTAATTCATTTTTCCGCCAAATGGAACATACATTTGGATATGGT ATGAAAGATGATTTAAACGATTGGTGGAATCAATCACACAAGCCTTGGTA A Gene: rdhA1_(BAV1 )(1393) SEQ ID NO: 2 GGGAGCAGGTATTGGTACCGCAGCTGCAACTGCAACTGCCCCAATGTTTC ACGACCTTGATGAGGTGATCGCTTCACCCTCAGCAGCAAATGAAAGACCA TGGTGGGTAAAGGATAGAGAATTGTACCAGCCCACGCTTGAGGTAGATTG GGATATTATGACTCCGCCGGATGGCAGAGTTAGCGGGCAGCAGACTGAAA CCCAAATTCACTACCTTGGAAGCGAAGAGGTAAAAAGGCGTTTATCATCG AATATAATGTCTCCCAACGTTGAAGCCGCTATCAATAATACACCGGGGAA AACTTTGCGTGACCAAGCCTTGGGACTCAGCTCAATTGTACCGATGATGA TTCACGGTATATCTTTCATGGGCCCGGGTCTTATTCCTACCCCTGCAACA ACCGGCGCCCCTAAATGGGAGGGTACACCTGAAGAAAACAGCCGGATGGT ACGCAGTGTTCTTACTTTTCTGGGTGCCGGTATGGTTGGTTTTGGTGAAA TTTCCAGCCAGGAGAGAGAAAAAATATTCTACACTTATCATAAACAAGTC CCCAACAAGAGGCAGGTATTTGAGGATGTAGATGTTGGCTACGAAGGTAC CGATAAATACGTTTTCCCTGACAGGAAGCTTTATAAGATATCTATGTCCC TGCCTATGTCCCGGGAAATGTATCGAACTTCCGACAGATCTTCATTACAA TTTGCAGCCAATGTATCCCGTTACCGTCACTTCAGTATGCTTCAGCCGGC TTTCCAAGAATTTATCAGAGGTATCGGGTATCATTGTTATGGCTATCCTG TACCACAGGCTGGCCCTATGCCTGCAGCAGTTAGTGCTATTCTTACCGGT CTGGCGGAATCAAGCCGGAATAGCGGGTATTGTATCTCTCCGGACTACGG ACCGGTTTCAGGTTTCTTTACATTTGTAACTGACTTGCCAGTTGAACCCA CTACACCTATAGATGCTGGTATCTGGCGCTTTTGTCAGACTTGCAATAAG TGTGCCCAAAACTGTCCGACCCAAGTAATCCCTTACGATAAAGAACCGAG TTGGGAACTCCCTACATTATATGGTAAACCGGATATTATCCATCCTTCCG GCAAGCGGATGTTCTACGCAAACCATATAGAGTGTTGGATGTACTGTTTT GAAGGCGGTTGCGGGACATGTATGGCTACATGTACTTTTAATGTAAATGG CGCAGCCATGGTACATGATGTGGTTAAGGCTACACTAGCCACAACTTCAA TGTTTAACGAATTTCTGTGGAAAGCGGATAAGACCTTCGGCTATGGGGTG AAGTCTGGGGAAGAAAAAGAAGACTGGTGGGATTTATCCTTACCATCGAT GGGCTGGGATACAACTTCCTTCTCAAAACATGGTGGTTATTAA Gene: rdhA2_(BAV1 )(1462) SEQ ID NO: 3 GGGTGCTGCAACAGCTTCAGCACCAGTGTTTCATGATTTGGATGAAATGA TNACATCTGTACCTAAATCTACAACTCAACATGCTTGGTGGGTAAAAGAA AGAGACTATGAGGATATTACTACGCCTGTTGATTGGACTGTTTGGTCACG ACGTGAGGCCTTAAAGAACCCGATGCCGCCCGGTTTTGCCGGGAATTATG TGCCTAAAGAACAGGCCAGATTACAGAGCTTTCGTAATGAAATTAAAAGA GGTATAACTGAAAAAATTCCCGGTGCAACTTTACGTGATTGGGCTCTTTC GGAAGCTGGGCGGAGCAATACCACCTCTTCGTCATGGATGGGGCTTGATG TTAAACCCCCATGGTTATGGGGTGAAGCCTCTGCTTTACCGGTTGAACCT TGGCCAGAAGGTGCACCCAAATGGGAATCTACTCCGGAAGATAATCTTAG AACGGTTCAGGCTGCCGGACACTATTTCGGTACGCCTCAGGTAGGCGCCA TGGAAATCAATGAACATATGATTCGTATGTTCGATAAAGATGGTTTTGAA CATAACTATAGTGCAAGTTATGAGAAACCCATGATGCGATTCCGCTCTGA GTGGTTTGAAGATATTCCGGTTGGTTTTCAGGATGCCAATCAGGTAAAAC ATATTCCAAAATCATGTAAATGGGCGGTTACTTATATTGCCGCCAAAGAA AATGCACTGCAGATGACTTATGGCATGCGTACTGGTGATCCTCAAGATCC GTGGTATAAGCGCATCTTTCCTTTGGGTTATACAACAGGAGAGGCTTATT CCAAAGCTGATTATGTTAAAGTCCAATTTATGAAATTCATAAAAATGTTG GGTTATCAAACTTATTATATGGGTTTAGCCGGTGGTACAAGTTCAAATAG TCCTGCAGGAATTTTCTCAGGTTTGGCAGAAGAGGCTCGCCCTGCGCTGG CCTGTTCACCTTATTATGGTAATGCGGTACGTCATATTGGAATCATTGTT ACCGATATGCCTCTGAGTCCCACTAAGCCTATTGATGCCGGTATTGTTAA TTTCTGCAAAGTATGCAAAAAATGTGCGGAGACTTGCCCTTCCGGCGCTA TTAGTATGGAAACTGAACAACAATGGGAACCTGCTTGCACGGGGAATAAT CCCGGTCGAAAAACTTGGTATTTGGACTGGTTTAAATGTCGTCCATGGGG TTCCCCATATTATTGTCCCAATTGTCAAACAGTCTGCCCATTTAACAATC CTAACAAAGCAATTATCCATAACGCTGTACNNANNACGGCTGCCACCACT CCAATATTTAACAGCTTCTTTTCATCTTTGGATAAGAGCTTTGGTTATGC TCACCAGCGTTCGGACGAAGAGCGACTTAACTGGTGGTACAGGGATCTTA ATACATGGCAATATGATGATGTTTTTGGTATGGGCACAAAAGATCCAAAA TCTTGGTTATGA GENE: rdhA3_(BAV1)-(1437) SEQ ID NO: 4 GGAGCAGGCCTAGGAGCAGCTGCGTCCACTACTCCGGTGTTTCATGACAT GGATGAACTCATTGCTTCATCTGGTTTTAGTGGTTCAGAATCATATTCCA GATATCCATGGTGGGTCAAAGAAGTGGATAAGCCGACCGCAGAGATAGAC TGGAATCTTATGAAACCCTATGACATGCGTAATTCAGATAAATGGGCTAC CCCAGAACTTCTTGCCAAATATTATGCTGCTCAATTAAAGCATACTAAGG AATGCATACTGAATAAAACGCCCGGCAGTAGTCTGAAGGATTATGCTTTG TTTGGGGGTATCAAGGGGTCCATGATGCAAAATGTACCAAAGGTTGGAAC CCCTGAACCCAATCTGGAATATCTCTATCCTACAGATACACTTACTTCAC TTGGTTTACCCCGGTATGAAGGCACCCCTGAGGAAAACCTTAAAATGTGT GCTGCAGCTATTCATCTACTCGGAGGCCGCGATATAAGCGTTGTAGAGGT AGATGATAATGTTAAAAAGGTCCTTTATTCGCATTCTGCTATGCTAATGG GAGGAAAGCCGAGTAGAGCCATTGTTTGGGAAGACGTAGATAATGCGTAT GAAACACCAGAAAAAATGGTAATTCCCAACAAATGCAAATGGGCGTTGGT GTATTCATGCCCTCAGTCTCAATTATCAAGGTATCGAAGTGTTATCATGG GCAAATTTGGGGTATTTGGAGCATACTCTGATATAGCAGTTATGGATCAA CGTCTACAAAAATTCCTGCGTATATTGGGATATCAGGGTGTTTTGGATGG TTTCGGTGGGGGCAATAGCATAAGTAGTAATTCGGGCTTTGGGGTACTTG CAGGCAGTGGTGAGATTGGTAGACATGACTACGTAAATTCTCCCAGTTTT GGGGCCTTGATGCGGATGAGTCAATTTATACTAACTGACTTACCTCTAGC ACCTACTAAACCCATTGATGCGGGTATGTGGAAATTCTGCCAGTCATGTA AGAAATGTGCCGATATGTGCCCATCTGGGGCTATCTCCAAAGAGGCTGAA CCTACTTGGGAGCCTACGGGAGTATGGAATGGCACTGGCCGCAAGCTTTA TCCGGTAGATTATCCCAAGTGTGGCCCTTGGAGGGGAATGCCTCCTGGAG GGATTGGCCATATCTATGAAGCGGGGCCTGGTGGTTGTTCTAATTGCCAA GTAGTATGTGTTTTCACCAAGACTCCTAAAGCTTCAATACATGATGTTAT AAGACCACTTGTTTCCAGTACCTCGGTCTTTAACAGTTTCTTTACTACAC TGGATAAATCATTCCATTACGGGGGGGCATTTGTTACTCCGCTGGGAGAA GTTAATGTAAGCCCTGATGAATGGTGGAACCGTGATCTGAAAACTTATCC GTTCAAAGGCAGAGTTATGGGAGACGGTTGGGCATAG GENE: rdhA4_(BAV1 )(1432) SEQ ID NO: 5 TTTTATGAAGGGCTTGGGGTTAGCTGGTGCGGGACTTGGTGCCGTGTCGG CTGTTACGCCTGTCTTTAGAGATTTGGATGAACTAACGTCTTCAGTTACG GCACATCCTAAACGTGCCTGGTATGTAAAGGAACGAGAATTTGGGGATAT CGGTATAGAAATTGACTGGAATATTTTGAAACGCCGTGACACCCGAGGTT ATTCATATTGGAATCCGATGATTTGGAAGCAACATTATCCGGCTTACGAT ATGGAAGCTTTTAATAAAGCTTTAGACAATAAGACCAAAGAACTCTGGCC TGATTATGCAGGGCCGACTACCAGAGACTATTCCCTGAAAAATGCCATGT ATTCGGTCGGGTTGGGATGCCCTCATTACCTGTACAATGTAGAACAGTTT GGAGTGACACTTCCGCATCCTGCACCACGCCCGGAAGCAATTGGTATGCC CAATTGGGCGGGTACTCCTGAAGAAAATTTCCAGATGATTCGGGCTGCTT TTAGTCTTATCGGTTTAGGTCCTTCAATAGGTATAACCGAACTGGATGAT AAGAGTAGGCGTTTTGTTCGGGAATATAATAACTGTGGTCAACACATAAT ATTTGATGACAATATAACTGAAACATATCGGACGGCAAATCCTCCCACCA TTCATATTCCTTCTTCACACCGGTATGTTATAGCTACCCACAATATGGGG GCAGACGAGATACTTCGCCGTGCTCCCTCAACCATTGGTGCATGCACAGA GTCCATATCCTATGCCCGTGTAGCGTATGCCAAGAGTTTCGTTGAACAAT TTATCCGCGGACTTGGCTATAACGTCGTCTATGGTCATTCACTTCAGGCT GCACCAGCTATGGATTTCTGGAGTGGAGTAGGTGAGCATGCCCGTATGGG GCAGGTTTGTGTGACACCTGAGAATGGTGCCATGATGCGTACCCATGCCA TCTTCTTCACCGATTTACCACTCTCGCCTACAAAACCAATTGATGCTGGC ATTACTAAGTTTTGCGAAACTTGCGGTATCTGTGCAGAGAGCTGTCCGGT AGGAGCCGTTCCGGCTAAAGGAGTGAACCGGAATTGGGATTCTAACTGTG ACGGCCAGAGCTTTGATAATGATATCGAAAGCGGCGGCACCGAGGTAATG TACAATGTACCCGGCTATAAAGGCTGGAGGGTTGACGGGTTTAGATGCTT AGCTGATTGCAATGGATGCAAGGGTTCCTGCCCTTTCAATGCTATTCCTA ACGGGAGCTTCATCCACAGTCTAGTTAAAGCAACCACTTCAACTACCCCG CTGTTCAATGGTTTCTTTACCCAAATGGAAAAATCTCTCCATTACGGTAA ACAGGATAAAGACCCTGAATCCTGGTGGCATGAACCAAACGCCTGGCACG TGTATGGCAGTAATCCGGGGTTACTGGGTTAA GENE: rdhA5_(BAV1 )(1451) SEQ ID NO: 6 ATTTTATGAAGGCTTTGGGTCTGGCTGGTGCCGGAGTCGGAGCAGTGTCT GCTGCCGCCCCGGTTTTTCATGATGTGGATGAGCTGACTGCTCCTTCCGG CGGCGTACAGAAGCTGCCGTGGTGGGTTAAAGAGAGGGAGTTCAAAGATC TTACAGTACCCATTGACTGGCAGAATCTGCCCAAGATGGAGGGTGTTTTC CCCATGCAGGCCAAGCCAACCCTGTCGGCTCAGGAAAGATATGCCATGGG CATTCCCGGCGGCAGTTCGGGTACTTGGGCCAGCCCTGAGCAGGCGCAAG TACTTTTTGATTACATGAAAAAGGAATTTCCGGGATGGGAACCCGGCTAT GCCGGTCTGGGAGACAACCGGACAACCGCTCTCTTCATGGCCACCAAATT TATGCGTATGGGCATGTGGCCCGGTGAAATAAACATGGGCGGCAACAGGG TTAATGTTGCCAAGGCTATTTCAGCGGCCGGAGGCACGGCTGCTTTCACC TCATTCCTGGGTCTTCGCTCAAGCGAAACGCTCCGCCCGCAGGATTTCGG TGTACCGCGTTGGGAAGGCACACCTGAAGAAAATCTGCTTACCTTGCGTC AGGTAGTCCGTTTCCTTGGCGGCTGTGATGTAGGTGCTCAGGAAATGGAT TCAGATGTTTTCAAGCTTTTCCATGAGAAAAGCGGCAAGAAACAGCTGGT AATAGAAAACGTAGACGAAGCGGCTGAAACACCCACCAAACTGGTCATTC CTGCCAAAGCCAAATATATCCTCCAGTGGACTGCCCGCCAGCCTTACGAA TCCACCAGACGCCAGGCCGGCGAATATGAGGATGCCGCTGTATACTGGTC TTATCAGAGGTTCCCCTTTGTCGGGGCTATTATCCAGGAATTTATCCACG CTCTGGGATATACTGCGGTTTCAACCCATCTGTCTGGTTACCATTCCAGT GCTGTAGCGACCTTGACCGGTATGGGGGAACATTGCCGTATGTCATCACC CATCTTGGTTCCCAAATACGGCGTTACCAACCGGGCTATGTGGGTAATTA TGACCGATATGCCTCTTATGTCCACTAAGCCTATAGACTTTGGGGTGTAT GACTTCTGCAAGACCTGCGGTATCTGTGCGGACGCCTGCCCGTTCGGCTT GATTGAAAAAGGCGACCCGACCTGGGAAGCTACTCAGCCGGGTAGCCGTC CCGGTTTCAACGGATGGCGTACTAATACCACCATCTGTCCGCATTGTCCG GTCTGTCAAAGCAGTTGCCCCTTTAATACCAATGGCGACGGTTCTTTTAT ACATGATTTGGTCAGAAACACAGTTTCTACCACCCCTATTTTCAACAGTT TCTTTGCCAATATGGAAAAGACCATGGGATACGGACGCAAGGACCCGCGC GACTGGTGGAATATAGATGATTATACCTACGGTATAAATACATCTTACTA A GENE: rdhA6_(BAV1 )(1451) SEQ ID NO: 7 ATTGGGGTTAGCGGGAGCAGGGATAGGTGCCGCGACTTCAGTTATGCCGA ATTTTCACGACTTGGATGAAGTAATTTCTGCTGCTAGTGCCGAAACCAGT TCTTTGTCGGGTAAATCTCTTAATAATTTTCCTTGGTATGTGAAAGAAAG GGATTTTGAAAATCCTACCATTGATATAGATTGGTCTATACTTGCGCGTA ATGACGGTTACAATCATCAGGGAGCCTATTGGGGACCTGTACCTGAAAAT GGAGATGATAAAAGGTATCCTGATCCCGCGGACCAGTGTCTTACTCTACC AGAAAAGAGAGATCTTTATTTAGCGTGGGCAAAACAGCAATTTCCTGACT GGGAACCAGGAATTAATGGCCATGGGCCAACAAGGGACGAAGCTTTATGG TTTGCCTCAAGTACAGGTGGTATCGGTAGGTATAGAATTCCTGGTACCCA GCAAATGATGTCCACAATGCGTCTTGACGGGTCTACTGGTGGTTGGGGTT ATTTCAATCAACCACCGGCAGCAGTCTGGGGAGGGAAATACCCAAGGTGG GAAGGAACTCCTGAAGAGAATACGTTGATGATGCGAACTGTTTGTCAATT TTTTGGTTACTCCAGTATAGGTGTAATGCCAATCACCAGCAATACAAAGA AGCTTTTTTTTGAAAAGCAAATACCTTTCCAATTTATGGCTGGAGATCCC GGTGTATTTGGGGGAACGGGAAATGTGCAGTTTGATGTCCCGCTGCCAAA GACACCTGTTCCAATAGTCTGGGAGGAAGTCGATAAAGGGTATTATAATG ACCAGAAAATTGTAATACCCAATAAGGCTAACTGGGTATTAACAATGACA ATGCCTTTACCAGAAGATCGTTTTAAACGTTCTCTAGGGTGGTCACTTGA CGCTTCAAGTATGATTGCCTATCCTCAGATGGCTTTTAATGGAGGCCGAG TTCAGACTTTTTTAAAAGCACTTGGCTATCAAGGACTTGGTGGCGACGTG GCTATGTGGGGACCTGGTGGTGCTTTTGGAGTTATGAGTGGTCTTTCCGA ACAAGGTCGTGCTGCTAATGAAATCAGCCCCAAATACGGTTCGGCAACTA AGGGCTCTAATCGATTAGTTTGTGATTTGCCCATGGTTCCGACCAAGCCA ATTGATGCTGGCATACACAAATTCTGTGAAACGTGTGGCATTTGTACAAC AGTTTGTCCCTCAAATGCTATCCAGGTAGGTCCTCCACAATGGAGTAATA ATCGGTGGGATAATACCCCTGGTTATCTTGGTTATCGACTTAACTGGGGT AGATGTGTTCTTTGTACAAACTGTGAGACCTATTGCCCATTTTTTAACAT GACTAATGGTTCTTTGATTCATAACGTAGTCAGATCCACAGTTGCAGCTA CACCGGTTTTTAATTCATTTTTCCGCCAAATGGAACATACATTTGGATAT GGTATGAAAGATGATTTAAACGATTGGTGGAATCAATCACACAAGCCTTG GTAA GENE: rdhA7_(BAV1 )(1533) SEQ ID NO: 8 ATGAAGGCACTCGGTCTTGTAGGGGCTGGTGCGGGTGCGGCAGCAGCTGT TGCTCCGGTGTTCAGAGACCTAGATGATTTAGTCGCTTCCCCCACTGCAA CTTTCCCGCGTGCTTGGTGGATTAAGGAACGTGACCTGTGGGATATTACC ACCGAATATGACTGGAAAGCTATGTCCCGGCATGATACATGTGAAACCAT GTGGATAAAACATTCATGGGCAAAATATGTAGGTGTTGACAAGGTTAAAG AAGCTGCCGCCAGTGCAGCCGCAATCAAAAAAGAAGCTCTGGAAACTGGT AAACCGGGCATGGACTTAAGAGCAACTGCCCTGGGTAGTACCTCTGGTTT GTATAATGCTCCTCAACCGTATTTCTCATATACTAAAACTGCTCAGGGTT GGGGTGGTGGTAAGAGTTTCACCGGTCAATCTACCATAAAAGGGCCTGAT GTACTGGGAGTACCCAAGTGGCAGGGTGATCCTGATGCTAACCTCAGGAT GTTGCGAGCGGCTTTACGCTTCTATGGCGCTGCCCAGATTGGCGTAGTTC CCTACGATACAAATGTAAAGAATAAATTAACCTGTGTTCGCGAAGGTGGC ATGGCCTCTATGAGCGATAAATACATTGAAAAATGGCCTATACCCGCTGT AGATGCCCGTCCGTTTGTGTTCGAAGATGTTGAAAAAGGCTATGAAACCG CTGAAAAGCTGGTGATTCCGGACAAAAAGGAACTTTTTGTGGTTTCAGTT ATTCAGCCTATGAGCCGCGAAATGTGGCGACAGGGTAGCGGCAATTTGAG AGTGGCAACTAATGGTCACCGTTATAGTCTGGCATCTGTTTGGCAAACCA AAATTCAAGGCTTCCTGACGACCCTTGGTTATCAGGGTTTGGGTTATCCT ACCAGGGCTTATGGATCCATGCCTACTATTCCTGGGTTTATTTTCTCTGG TTTAGGTGAACTTGGGCGTTCAAATAATGTCTGTTTGAGCCCTGAATACG GTTCAACCCACGGATCATTCCATTTCCTGACAGATTTGCCGTTAACTCCT ACCAAACCTATAGATGCCGGTATGTGGCGGTTCTGTAAGACTTGTGCTAT TTGCGCTGAAAACTGTCCTTCGCAGTCTATTTCATATGACAAAGAACCCT CATGGGAAATCACTCCTTCCAAGTATGCTCCCAATGTTCCGGTAGAATAC AGTGTTCCGGGCAAAAAGGTTTTCTGGCGTGATGAACCATCTTGCAAACA GTGGACTGAGAGTTGTGGTTATTCCTGTGGTATCTGCATGGGTTCCTGCG TGTTCAACGTGGACAATGCCTCCATGATACACCAGGTAGTTAAAGGTACT ATTGCTACCACCAGTCTCTTCAATGGTTTCATGAAACAGGCTGACAAGTT CTTTGGTTATGGACTTACACCTGAGTCTGAGTGGAACAATTGGTGGGACA TGAATCTGCCGGCCTATGCTTTTGATACTACTGTTGGTGTTACTGATGGT GGTTACAAAGCCAAAGGCCTGCTGCAGCAATAA

The amino acid sequence of the isolated RDase genes of the present invention was deduced using Translate tool (http://us.expasy.org/tools/dna.html). The deduced amino acid sequences are shown below.

Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA1_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 26) (Accession # AY553222) GAGIGTAAATATAPMFHDLDEVIASPSAANERPWWVKDRELYQPTLEVDW DIMTPPDGRVSGQQTETQIHYLGSEEVKRRLSSNIMSPNVEAAINNTPGK TLRDQALGLSSIVPMMIHGISFMGPGLIPTPATTGAPKWEGTPEENSRMV RSVLTFLGAGMVGFGEISSQEREKIFYTYHKQVPNKRQVFEDVDVGYEGT KDYVFPDRKLYKISMSLPMSREMYRTSDRSSLQFAANVSRYRHFSMLQPA FQEFIRGIGYHCYGYPVPQAGPMPAAVASILTGLAESSRNSGYCISPDYG PVSGFFTFVTDLPVEPTTPIDAGIWRFCQTCNKCAQNCPTQVIPYDKEPS WELPTLYGKPDIIHPSGKRMFYANHIECWMYCFEGGCGTCMATCTFNVNG AAMVHDVVKATLATTSMFNEFLWKADKTFGYGVKSGEEKEDWWDLSLPSM GWDTTSFSKHGY Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA2_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 27) (Accession # AY553223) GAATASAPVFHDLDEMXTSVPKSTTQHAWWVKERDYEDITTPVDWTVWSR REALKNPMPPGFAGNYVPKEQARLQSFRNEIKRGITEKIPGATLRDWALS EAGRSNTTSSSWMGLDVKPPWLWGEASALPVEPWPEGAPKWESTPEDNLR TVQAAGHYFGTPQVGAMEINEHMIRMFDKDGFEHNYSASYEKPMMRFRSE WFEDIPVGFQDANQVKHIPKSCKWAVTYIAAKENALQMTYGMRTGDPQDP WYKRIFPLGYTTGEAYSKADYVKVQFMKFIKMLGYQTYYMGLAGGTSSNS PAGIFSGLAEEARPALACSPYYGNAVRHIGIIVTDMPLSPTKPIDAGIVN FCKVCKKCAETCPSGAISMETEQQWEPACTGNNPGRKTWYLDWFKCRPWG SPYYCPNCQTVCPFNNPNKAIIHNAVXXTAATTPIFNSFFSSLDKSFGYA HQRSDEERLNWYRDLNTWQYDDVFGMGTKDPKSWL Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA3_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 28) (Accession # AY553224) GAGLGAAASTTPVFHDMDELIASSGFSGSESYSRYPWWVKEVDKPTAEID WNLMKPYDMRNSDKWATPELLAKYYAAQLKHTKECILNKTPGSSLKDYAL FGGIKGSMMQNVPKVGTPEPNLEYLYPTDTLTSLGLPRYEGTPEENLKMC AAAIHLLGGRDISVVEVDDNVKKVLYSHSAMLMGGKPSRAIVWEDVDNAY ETPEKMVIPNKCKWALVYSCPQSQLSRYRSVIMGKFGVFGAYSDIAVMDQ RLQKFLRILGYQGVLDGFGGGNSISSNSGFGVLAGSGEIGRHDYVNSPSF GALMRMSQFILTDLPLAPTKPIDAGMWKFCQSCKKCADMCPSGAISKEAE PTWEPTGVWNGTGRKLYPVDYPKCGPWRGMPPGGIGHIYEAGPGGCSNCQ VVCVFTKTPKASIHDVIRPLVSSTSVFNSFFTTLDKSFHYGGAFVTPLGE VNVSPDEWWNRDLKTYPFKGRVMGDGWA Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA4_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 29) (Accession # AY553225) LGLAGAGLGAVSAVTPVFRDLDELTSSVTAHPKRAWYVKEREFGDIGIEI DWNILKRRDTRGYSYWNPMIWKQHYPAYDMEAFNKALDNKTKELWPDYAG PTTRDYSLKNAMYSVGLGCPHYLYNVEQFGVTLPHPAPRPEAIGMPNWAG TPEENFQMIRAAFSLIGLGPSIGITELDDKSRRFVREYNNCGQHIIFDDN ITETYRTANPPTIHIPSSHRYVIATHNMGADEILRRAPSTIGACTESISY ARVAYAKSFVEQFIRGLGYNVVYGHSLQAAPAMDFWSGVGEHARMGQVCV TPENGAMMRTHAIFFTDLPLSPTKPIDAGITKFCETCGICAESCPVGAVP AKGVNRNWDSNCDGQSFDNDIESGGTEVMYNVPGYKGWRVDGFRCLADCN GCKGSCPFNAIPNGSFIHSLVKATTSTTPLFNGFFTQMEKSLHYGKQDKD PESWWHEPNAWHVYGSNPGLLG Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA5_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 30) (Accession # AY553226) LGLAGAGVGAVSAAAPVFHDVDELTAPSGGVQKLPWWVKEREFKDLTVPI DWQNLPKMEGVFPMQAKPTLSAQERYAMGIPGGSSGTWASPEQAQVLFDY MKKEFPGWEPGYAGLGDNRTTALFMATKFMRMGMWPGEINMGGNRVNVAK AISAAGGTAAFTSFLGLRSSETLTPQDFGVPRWEGTPEENLLTLRQVVRF LGGCDVGAQEMDSDVFKLFHEKSGKKQLVIENVDEAAETPTKLVIPAKAK YILQWTARQPYESTRRQAGEYEDAAVYWSYQRFPFVGAIIQEFIHALGYT AVSTHLSGYHSSAVATLTGMGEHCRMSSPILVPKYGVTNRAMWVIMTDMP LMSTKPIDFGVYDFCKTCGICADACPFGLIEKGDPTWEATQPGSRPGFNG WRTNTTICPHCPVCQSSCPFNTNGDGSFIHDLVRNTVSTTPIFNSFFANM EKTMGYGRKDPRDWWNIDDYTYGINTSY Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA6_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 31) (Accession # AY553227) GAGIGAATSVMPNFHDLDEVISAASAETSSLSGKSLNNFPWYVKERDFEN PTIDIDWSILARNDGYNHQGAYWGPVPENGDDKRYPDPADQCLTLPEKRD LYLAWAKQQFPDWEPGINGHGPTRDEALWFASSTGGIGRYRIPGTQQMMS TMRLDGSTGGWGYFNQPPAAVWGGKYPRWEGTPEENTLMMRTVCQFFGYS SIGVMPITSNTKKLFFEKQIPFQFMAGDPGVFGGTGNVQGDVPLPKTPVP IVWEEVDKGYYNDQKIVIPNKANWVLTMTMPLPEDRFKRSLGWSLDASSM IAYPQMAFNGGRVQTFLKALGYQGLGGDVAMWGPGGAFGVMSGLSEQGRA ANEISPKYGSATKGSNRLVCDLPMVPTKPIDAGIHKFCETCGICTTVCPS NAIQVGPPQWSNNRWDNTPGYLGYRLNWGRCVLCTNCETYCPFFNMTNGS LIHNVVRSTVAATPVFNSFFRQMEHTFGYGMKDDLNDWWNQSHKPW Amino Acid Sequence: RdhA7_(BAV1 )(SEQ ID NO: 32) (Accession # AY553228) LGLVGAGAGAAAAVAPVFRDLDDLVASPTATFPRAWWIKERDLWDITTEY DWKAMSRHDTCETMWIKHSWAKYVGVDKVKEAAASAAAIKKEALETGKPG MDLRATALGSTSGLYNAPQPYFSYTKTAQGWGGGKSFTGQSTIKGPDVLG VPKWQGDPDANLRMLRAALRFYGAAQIGVVPYDTNVKNKLTCVREGGMAS MSDKYIEKWPIPAVDARPFVFEDVEKGYETAEKLVIPDKKELFVVSVIQP MSREMWRQGSGNLRVATNGHRYSLASVWQTKIQGFLTTLGYQGLGYPTRA YGSMPTIPGFIFSGLGELGRSNNVCLSPEYGSTHGSFHFLTDLPLTPTKP IDAGMWRFCKTCAICAENCPSQSISYDKEPSWEITPSKYAPNVPVEYSVP GKKVFWRDEPSCKQWTESCGYSCGICMGSCVFNVDNASMIHQVVKGTIAT TSLFNGFMKQADKFFGLGLTPESEWNNWWDMNLPAYAFDTTVGVTDGGYK AKGLLQQ Amino Acid Sequence: BcvA (SEQ ID NO: 33) (Accession # AY563562) MHNFHCTISRRDFMKGLGLAGAGIGAATSVMPNFHDLDEVISAASAETSS LSGKSLNNFPWYVKERDFENPTIDIDWSILARNDGYNHQGAYWGPVPENG DDKRYPDPADQCLTLPEKRDLYLAWAKQQFPDWEPGINGHGPTRDEALWF ASSTGGIGRYRIPGTQQMMSTMRLDGSTGGWGYFNQPPAAVWGGKYPRWE GTPEENTLMMRTVCQFFGYSSIGVMPITSNTKKLFFEKQIPFQFMAGDPG VFGGTGNVQFDVPLPKTPVPIVWEEVDKGYYNDQKIVIPNKANWVLTMTM PLPEDRFKRSLGWSLDASSMIAYPQMAFNGGRVQTFLKALGYQGLGGDVA MWGPGGAFGVMSGLSEQGRAANEISPKYGSATKGSNRLVCDLPMVPTKPI DAGIHKFCETCGICTTVCPSNAIQVGPPQWSNNRWDNTPGYLGYRLNWGR CVLCTNCETYCPFFNMTNGSLIHNVVRSTVAATPVFNSFFRQMEHTFGYG MKDDLNDWWNQSHKPW

The deduced amino acid sequences shown above were aligned with other known reductive dehalogenases isolated from D. ethenogenes strain 195 and Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1. The sequences were aligned using clustalX and/or clustalW (same algorithm for both). The alignments are shown in FIGS. 6A-6D. Identical or similar amino acids highlighted. The alignment indicates that the deduced amino acid sequences of the present invention share some identity with other known reductive dehalogenase and the similarity is generally confined to the two iron-sulfur binding motifs near the C-terminus ((CXXCXXCXXXCP)₂). The degree of similarity between the deduced amino acid sequences and other known reductive dehalogenases isolated from D. ethenogenes strain 195 and Dehalococcoides sp. strain BAV1 is shown in the matrix represented by FIGS. 5A-5D. The degree of similarity matrix was calculated using BLOSUM62 amino acid substitution matrix, Henikoff, S, and Henikoff, J. G. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 10915-10919.

Example 5 Detection of bvcA in Other Dechlorinating Cultures

PCR amplification was performed using bvcA-targeted primers bvcAF and bvcAR (Table 2) using genomic DNA from other Dehalococcoides isolates and Dehalococcoides-containing mixed cultures as templates. As shown in FIG. 3, the correct sized amplicon was generated with isolate BAV1 genomic DNA, but not with genomic DNA from Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195, strain FL2, or strain CBDB1, none of which have been reported to grow on VC (FIG. 3, DNA size marker 50-2000 bp (Biorad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) (lane 1); genomic DNA from: strain BAV1 (lane 2), strain CBDB1 (lane 3), Dehalococcoides ethenogenes (lane 4), and strain FL2 (lane 5); H₂O (lane 6), plasmid DNA containing rdhA6_(BAV1) (lane 7)). bvcA was detected in four of eight Dehalococcoides-containing cultures capable of complete reductive dechlorination and ethene production.

As shown in FIG. 4, bvcA was also present in cultures KB-1 and the Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM, two commercially available ethene-producing enrichment cultures that have been successfully used in bioaugmentation approaches. (FIG. 4, DNA size marker 1 Kb plus (Invitrogen™, Carlsbad, Calif.) (lane 1), H₂O (lane 2), plasmid DNA containing rdhA6_(BAV1) (lane 3); genomic DNA from the Bachman enrichment culture (lane 4), the Au Sable culture (lane 5), the Pere Marquette culture (lane 6), the Red Cedar culture (lane 7), the Hydrite culture (lane 8), the Minerva culture (lane 9), Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM (lane 10), KB-1 (lane 11), and the Victoria culture (lane 12)). In addition, bvcA was identified in two ethene-producing enrichment cultures derived from chloroethene-contaminated aquifer materials (i.e., the Minerva site and the Hydrite site). bvcA, however, was not detected in the Victoria culture containing Dehalococcoides sp. strain VS nor in three VC-dechlorinating enrichment cultures derived from Michigan river sediments (FIG. 4).

Patents, patent applications, publications, product descriptions, and protocols are cited throughout this application, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes. 

What we claims is:
 1. A method for identifying a dechlorinating bacterial organism comprising: (a) contacting a probe with a bacterial cell extract under high stringency conditions of 0.5×SSC and 65° C., the contact effecting the hybridization of the probe with a nucleic acid obtained from the bacterial cell extract, wherein the probe comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24 and SEQ ID NO: 25, and (b) determining that the probe has hybridized to the nucleic acid obtained from the bacterial cell extract.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bacterial cell extract is obtained from a bacterial culture or an environmental sample.
 3. A method of quantifying the amount of dechlorinating bacteria present in a sample comprising: (a) contacting the sample with (i) a probe comprising a portion of an isolated polynucleotide encoding a reductive dehalogenase comprising a polynucleotide sequence of at least 15 nucleotides that has at least 95% sequence identity over the length of the entire reference sequence to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 7; (ii) a first oligonucleotide primer comprising SEQ ID NO: 14; and (iii) a second oligonucleotide primer comprising SEQ ID NO: 21; and (b) performing Real-Time PCR on the sample to quantify the amount of dechlorinating bacteria in the sample.
 4. A method of quantifying the amount of dechlorinating bacteria present in a sample comprising: (a) contacting the sample with (i) a first oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, (ii) a second oligonucleotide primer comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 and (iii) a probe comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25; and (b) performing Real-Time PCR on the sample to quantify the amount of dechlorinating bacteria present in the sample.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 14. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 21. 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first oligonucleotide primer has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, the second oligonucleotide primer has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 and the probe has a sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 25. 10. A method for identifying a dechlorinating bacterial organism in a sample comprising: (a) contacting the sample with (i) a first oligonucleotide primer comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 25; and (ii) a second oligonucleotide primer comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 21 and SEQ ID NO: 24; and (b) performing PCR on the sample to determine the presence of the dechlorinating bacterial organism in the sample.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 and the second oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 21. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 23. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 24. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 25. 15. The method of claim 3, wherein the probe comprises a polynucleotide sequence having at least 99% sequence identity over the length of the entire reference sequence to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:
 7. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 and the second oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 24. 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23 and the second oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 21. 18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 and the second oligonucleotide primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 21. 